Pertussis Facts

Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a respiratory infection caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis.
It is easily spread from one person to another.

Anyone at any age can get whooping cough.

Whooping cough spreads through direct contact with the fluids from the nose and throat of people
who have the infection. Often older siblings or adults in a home who have the bacteria in their nose and
throat can bring the disease home and infect a baby in the home.

Whooping cough begins as a mild upper respiratory infection with sneezing, a runny nose, low fever
and a mild cough. Within two weeks, the cough becomes worse and the person who has it will cough
rapidly. The coughing will be followed by a crowing or high-pitched whoop sound. A thick, clear fluid may
appear with the coughing. This may happen over and over again for one to two months. The coughing spells
happen more at night. Young babies, adolescents and adults do not have these coughing spells. Older
people or children who have received some of the vaccine against whooping cough may have milder
symptoms.

You will usually notice symptoms seven to ten days after catching whooping cough, but symptoms
can appear anywhere from four days to 21 days after catching it.

A person who has whooping cough is contagious from the time they notice symptoms to three
weeks after the rapid coughing starts. This can be reduced to five days if you are properly treated.

After you have whooping cough once you are not likely to get it again.

Young babies are at the highest risk of problems resulting from whooping cough.

Serious problems that could result from whooping cough include:

Lung infections (pneumonia)
Seizures
Disorders with the brain
Death

Less serious problems that could result from whooping cough include:
Ear infections
Loss of appetite
Dehydration

Children should be vaccinated at two, four, six and 18 months of age and between four and six years
of age. Older children and adults who have completed this series of vaccinations should receive boosters
every 10 years.

Vaccination is the best way to stop the spread of whooping cough. Proper treatment of both people
who have whooping cough and those in close contact of those with it is also important. Whooping cough is
treated with medicine that stops the growth of bacteria.

November 2010